The Chase and the Trap — Jude the Obscure

Weeks into the courtship, Jude detours right before the hill on every Saturday walk back from Alfredston, not to visit, he tells himself, just to catch a glimpse. He finds Arabella chasing three escaped pigs around the garden and joins without hesitation. The third pig bolts through a hedge into the open downs; they run hand-in-hand up the hillside until the animal is a distant speck and they stand alone on the summit, panting, with a view that includes Christminster on the horizon, which Jude does not think of. Arabella drops onto the grass under a stunted thorn and contrives to get Jude close beside her; when he asks for a kiss, she springs to her feet and walks home cold and silent, leaving him confused and self-blaming.

He tells himself he must have taken too much liberty. The following Sunday, Arabella arranges for her parents to attend evening church and leaves the key under the front scraper. Finding the house empty, Jude enters readily.

Arabella produces a cochin's egg she has been incubating against her skin, wrapped in wool and pig's bladder, and makes it the pretext for the evening: he cannot come too close without risking the egg. She offers her cheek over the back of her chair, then reclaims the egg, offering and denying by turns, until Jude captures it in a small physical struggle. She bolts for the stairs in the dark, laughing, and Jude rushes after her. Hardy closes the chapter at the threshold.